Moles

Mole Trapping, Removal, and Prevention

Moles are mammals about seven inches long that live almost entirely underground. Mole damage is often mistaken for gopher or vole damage. Using their cylindrically-shaped bodies and webbed feet, moles practically swim in the dirt under your lawn, golf course or fields.

Moles are related to shrews and bats, not rodents. Moles have hairless, pointed snouts and their ears are hidden so far in their fur that you can’t see them. Moles have very poor eyesight and, as a result, their senses of touch and smell are very sharp.

A. Seven species of moles are found in the United States. The different mole species span the country, and some species live in water or at the very least, spend a lot of time in water.

But most moles live in underground burrows where they search for food and tunnel in the dirt. If a mole does come to the surface of your yard, it is most likely by accident. Because of this, it’s hard to know about mole relationships but most researchers believe moles are loners, living and traveling alone for the most part. Moles make their sleeping burrows in high, dry spots in the ground, but they like to hunt their food in shady, cool, moist soil. This is why moles so often dig up well-watered parks and lawns. Moles often den under large trees, buildings and sidewalks.

A. Moles do not hibernate, and they stay relatively active throughout most of the year. The rainy summer months are when moles most actively search for food. Though moles are usually loners, the males do stick around during mating season which begins in April or May. Approximately 45 days after breeding, three or four blind and naked mole babies are born.

Because of the type of foods they eat, moles must cover a lot more ground than other animals that live in the earth. The home range of a mole is thought to be 20 times that of a gopher’s.

A. The majority of the mole’s diet is made up of animal matter such as insects, grubs and worms. Moles will sometimes eat beetles and baby mice as well. Moles eat an enormous amount of food every day – up to 100 percent of their body weight. Moles never seem to get full. Moles use up so much energy pushing through the ground that they have to have a lot of food to keep going.

Though moles survive mostly on animal matter they will snack on vegetation at times, and this includes grasses and roots from the plants in your yard or garden.

Q-4. WHY SHOULD I LEARN HOW TO GET RID OF MOLES UNDER MY LAWN, GOLF COURSE OR FIELDS?Back to FAQ

A. If you see volcano-shaped hills of dirt up to 24 inches tall in your yard, golf course or field, you most likely have a burrowing mole on your property below the surface setting up a den. Moles don’t usually create holes on the surface of your grass, like gophers and armadillos do. Many dirt hills does not mean many moles; one mole can do a lot of yard damage.

All in all, moles in your lawn, golf course or field can do a lot of expensive damage to your landscape. You may wake up in the morning to find your whole front lawn has served as a mole feeding lot and playground, with dirt and grass uprooted and thrown about. Moles can do damage to your lawn and flower beds that is beyond repair.

Moles are root destroyers. In their efforts at digging and finding food, moles will hurt vegetation by uprooting it. Lawnmower blades can be mangled and destroyed when they move over mole tunnels and molehills. Horses and other livestock can suffer broken legs when they run through fields full of mole tracks. Moles plow through bamboo roots, destroying them in their wake. Rose bushes are also killed by mole activity.

Mole tunnels are intricate underground systems that wreak havoc on your lawn, golf course or field. They usually dig a few burrows off their tunnels which they use as resting places, with even more tunnels branching off of those. Some portions of the mole burrow can be up to eight inches deep. Some mole tunnels are very well-traveled, and other tunnels only get used once. Mole tunnels may be either deep or shallow in the dirt. People often think they have many moles, when in reality it is actually unusual for one yard area to have more than one male. Moles are territorial and they like to spread out.

Moles will tear into areas of your yard or golf course and haunt it for years to come. All these mole pest problems will affect the value of your property. It is difficult to sell a home that has a mole infestation and actually, it’s required by law that you fix the mole problem before you sell your home. Property value can decrease between five percent and ten percent due to mole problems.

Q-5. MOLES ARE IN MY LAWN, GARDEN, GRASS, GOLF COURSE OR FIELDS. WHAT OTHER MOLE DAMAGE IS THERE?Back to FAQ

A. Mole activity in your lawn, golf course or fields can mangle water lines, which can lead to expensive flood damage. Mole activity may break cables, which can affect phones or any other utility you receive through underground lines. Moles destroy sprinkler systems by uprooting sprinkler heads and warping underground water lines.

Mole tree damage is a huge concern. Their burrowing can expose tree roots, girdle and clip trees—all great ways to kill a tree in your yard or golf course. Moles come in like plagues, affecting small areas where people take good care of their landscape. It’s important to get on top of a mole pest problem before moles hit root systems and kill trees, shrubs and ornamentals.

If moles are in your lawn, golf course or field, a plethora of other harmful animals will also be attracted to your property. Coyotes, badgers and skunks all prey on moles and will enter your yard or golf course and cause their own pest problems in search of moles. Moles can destroy storage retainer ponds and cause flooding.

The intricate mazes of a mole’s den and tunnels will attract other ground-burrowing animals, such as voles, white-footed mice and house mice. These little rodents will use the mole’s habitat as a place to hunt their own food, and they will surely tear up your vegetation since it is such a main part of their diets.

A. Yes, moles rarely but sometimes can be carriers of rabies. Rabies, a virus, progressively paralyzes and can kill any mammal, including humans. Rabies is generally contracted through contact with an infected mole through biting. Though humans should avoid contact with any mole, if a mole seems especially fearless around humans, it could be infected. Call UnitedWildlife mole control immediately for professional mole removal.

A. Though moles rarely come above ground, it is a possibility, and your dog or cat may want to play with the mole. Because of mole illnesses, a mole lurking on your property can pose a danger to domestic dogs and cats. Your dog or cat will likely be tempted to dig moles to the surface in your yard, which will also cause more lawn damage.

A. We understand the desire to take care of a mole problem yourself. It may be tempting to take matters into your own hands, but in the long run, you could put yourself, your family and your home at risk of damage, distress and disease. You must have special licensing to use mole poisons or repellents. Live-trapping moles is not a very effective option.

There are several myths regarding how to get rid of moles. These include funneling carbon monoxide or water into mole tunnels, or leaving chewing gum in their dens. These are all ineffective myths for getting rid of moles and will only waste you time and money.

Because of the unique behaviors of moles, it is very difficult for an amateur mole-trapper to know how to get rid of moles. The mole removal experts at UnitedWildlife will humanely trap or exterminate any existing moles, and then offer mole prevention ideas and techniques.

Q-9. HOW CAN UNITED WILDLIFE’S ANIMAL CONTROL HELP ME GET RID OF MY MOLE PROBLEM?Back to FAQ

A. UnitedWildlife’s specialty is the removal of moles from lawns, golf courses, fields and other hard-to-reach locations through special mole trapping and bait techniques. Mole poisons are successful about 25 percent of the time, but UnitedWildlife’sspecialmoletrapping techniques are 100 percent effective. Depending on city, county, federal and state law, the mole will either be relocated or euthanized once it is taken away. No matter the course of action, the mole will be treated in a humane manner.

It’s important to trap or kill moles immediately. Moles can be controlled and United Wildlife’s mole exterminators have huge success in trapping them.

If a mole has already died in your yard or golf course, our professional mole trappers offer dead mole removal services and can also help clear odors caused by dead moles.

We’re professional mole trappers who will travel to any location to get the moles out. We also provide professional phone and Internet coaching for those who live in remote areas and want to perform pest control for moles by using digital pictures sent by e-mail. Either way, we will work with you to solve your mole invasion. There is not a mole problem that can’t be solved with UnitedWildlife’sprofessional mole trapping service.

Q-10. WHAT ARE UNITED WILDLIFE’S PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR MOLE REMOVAL OR TO GET RID OF MOLES?Back to FAQ

A. Call UnitedWildlife’smole extermination specialists and we’ll give you our rates. We charge incrementally per mole and number of service calls. Prices will vary depending on severity of the mole problem. Depending on the amount of moles and where they are living, you may be able to assist us with the mole problem as we are dealing with it. There is no free government service that takes care of mole control. The good news is, insurance companies will often pay for some, if not all, of the costs incurred to get rid of moles.

UnitedWildlifemoleexperts accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. We also take purchase orders and cash.

Q-11. WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER UNITED WILDLIFE MOLE CONTROL EXTERMINATES THE MOLES?Back to FAQ

A. Don’t entice other moles to return. We will help you make sure your lawn, golf course or fields are in proper repair to deter any future burrowing moles from entering.

UnitedWildlife’s mole blockers can install special products which block moles from burrowing in your yard or golf course. UnitedWildlife mole control can help you install underground mole slick fences to keep moles out.

Do remember that moles are wild and unpredictable. Though we have years of experience in the mole extermination field, a particular mole situation may require that we return more than once to get the job done right and to prevent moles in your yard or golf course in the future. Incremental pricing will apply for our professional mole removal and all mole solutions are custom made and custom priced.

United Wildlife will help identify your mole pest damage. We will remove the existing mole pest and develop a custom wildlife solution to stop or control the mole problem from occurring again.

In the end, if you’re happy with our experienced, professional mole trappers, any referrals are always appreciated.